Coin-controlled vending device.



J. R. HALLORAN. COIN CONTROLLED VENDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.13, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (10., WASHINGTON, D c.

J. R. HALLORAN.

' COIN CONTROLLED VENDING DEVICE.

7 APPLICATION FILED 33.13, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912. I

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COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPH 10., WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. R. HALLORAN com CONTROLLED VENDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.13, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH $0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

JAMES R. I-IALLORAN, OF NEW 'IBRITAIN', CONNECTICUT.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING nnvrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed February 13, 1911. Serial N 0. 608,408.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. HALLORAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Gontrolled Vending Devices; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1 a perspective view of a vending device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 a front view on an enlarged scale of the device removed from the casing. Fig.3aside view of the same. V Fig. 4a face view of the locking slide, detached. Fig. 5 a broken sectional view showing the plunger in its normal or locked position. Fig. 6 a similar view showing the weight depressed by a' coin, and the device in position for operation. Fig. 7 a similar view showing the plunger as forced inward and the coin released. Fig. 8 a broken view partly in vertical elevation, showing the plunger in its normal or locked position. Fig. 9 a broken sectional view illustrating the manner of delivering merchandise.

This invention relates to an improvement in coin-controlled vending device, the object of the invention being a simple means for preventing the operation of the device until a coin of predetermined size is inserted; and the invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In illustrating my invention I have shown it as applied to a device for vending postage stamps; but it will be apparent that the mechanism may be readily adapted for' vending other articles of commerce.

Mounted in the front post 2 of a frame is a horizontally movable plunger 3 provided at its outer end With a suitable finger-piece 4c. The plunger passes through the mouth 5 of a coin-chute 6 and at its inner end 7 projects into close proximity to the rear post 8 of the frame which is formed with a clearance opening 9 in line with the plunger. In the plunger is a longitudinal slot 10 through which a coin l1 may pass. Pivotally attached to the plunger in rear of the mouth 5 is a yoke 12 which carries a block 13 and is formed with a rearwardly extending tail 14 the rear end of which passes tion 18 corresponding in size to the diameter of the end of the plunger. Extend ing through the plunger in rear of the front post 2is a shaft 19, and upon the plunger between the front face of the mouth 5 and the shaft 19 is a coil spring 20 the tendency of which is to force the plunger outward. Ifhis shaft 19 projects to one side and carries a slide 21 which is adapted to engage with the lowermost package 22 of the devices to be vended, which devices are arranged in a pile in a suitable cage 23 which as herein shown is formed from vertical wlres, the devices being pressed downward by a weight 24.

Access to the upper end of the chute 6 is had through a coin slot 25 in the front wall 26 of the casing which incloses the mechanism and through which casing the plunger projects. Beneath the devices in the cage 1s a chute 27 which delivers the articles to be vended to the outlet opening 28 at the bottom of the casing, while below the plunger 1s a coin-delivering chute 29 which guides the coins to a suitable receptacle in the bottom of the casing which may be visible through a glazed opening 30. Aglazed slght opening 31 may also be provided at a suitable point to expose the weight 24. When all the articles have been delivered, this weight carrying the word empty will thus be exposed.

As herein shown a letter scale is mounted on the top of the posts, and having its dial exposed through an opening 32 in the cas ing, and having the spindle 33 of the pan 34 extend down through the top 35 of the casmg.

In the normal position the spring 20 holds the plunger forward and the weight of the slide 16 upon the tail 1& raises the weight 13 so as to project it forward, and the slide closes the opening 9 in the rear post 8 so that the plunger cannot be moved inward as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. A coin of predetermined weight and size dropped into the chute 6 will pass through the slot 10 in the plunger and strike the weight 13, depressing the weight and raising the tail 14 which lifts the slide 16 so as to bring the perforation 18 in line with the plunger as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The plunger may then be forced inward as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. This inward movement of the plunger carries the weight 13 so as to release the coin and allow it to drop, and this inward movement of the plunger forces the slide 19 rearward and pushes the lowermost article in the stack out of the cage, from which it falls to the discharge opening 28. As soon as the plunger is released the spring 20 reacts and forces the plunger outward, and as soon as it is clear from the slide 16, the slide again drops and again closes the opening 9 so that the plunger cannot again be forced inward until another coin of proper size is inserted. lVhen all the articles in the stack have beendischarged, the weight will be exposed through the opening 31 indicating that the device is empty.

If a smaller coin than the one intended to operate the device is inserted, it will pass directly through the slot in the plunger and will not hold the weight in a depressed position, and consequently will not hold the slide in its raised position so as to permit the plunger to be moved inward.

I claim 1. In a vending device, the combination with a member having a clearance-opening, of a horizontally movable plunger arranged in line with the said clearance-opening, a vertically movable slide formed with a perforation for the reception of the said plun ger, a coin-operated weight pivotally suspended from the plunger and connected with the said slide which it lifts to bring the perforation thereof into registration with the said clearance-opening, whereby the plunger is free to be moved through the said perforation and opening, and a delivery mechanism connected with the plunger and controlled thereby in the delivery of the articles vended by the device.

2. In a vending device, the combination with a member having a clearance-opening, of a horizontally movable plunger located in line with the said clearance-opening and itself formed with a coin slot, a vertically movable slide having a perforation and interposed between the said member and one end of the plunger which is normally blocked by the slide from passing through the said opening, a coin-operated weight pivotally suspended from the plunger and connected with the slide for operating the same to bring the perforations thereof in line with the said opening, a coin-chute arranged above the said plunger in position to deliver a coin directly to the coin-slot thereof, and delivery mechanism connected with the said plunger and controlled thereby in the delivery of the articles vended by the machine.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES R. HALLOR-AN.

Witnesses:

J AMES T. MESKILL, HAROLD K. WATROUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

